Mail elevator



D. 1s, 1925l 1,565,312

D. A. DORAN MAIL ELEVATOR Dec. l5, 1925- Filed Oct. 2, 1923 2 D. A. DORAN MAIL ELEVATOR 2 Sheets--Sl'xeetv 2 WMWOW@ .42@ g lL.

Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

i UNITED STATES DANIEL A. DORAN, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK.

MAIL ELEVATOR.

Application filed October 2, 1923. Serial No. 666,077.`

To all @07mm t may concern.:

Be itknown that I, DANIEL A. DonAN, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Yonkers, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail Elevators, of which the following is a specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to mail lelevators or lifts, and particularly to apparatus of this class designed for use in raising and lowering mail in an apartment house or other building or dwelling: and the object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the class specified by means of which mail. or small packages or objects may be automatically moved from predetermined points in a building to a single room or compartment, for example, a master mail box, and also automatically return to predetermined points in the building; a further object being to provide an apparatus involving one electric motor or other power element, actuating a plurality of mail box units in such manner as to move all of such units from predetermined points in a building to one delivery point and vice versa, by the employment of suitable speed transmission means; a` still further object being to provide automaticallyl actuated means for controlling the operation of the electric motor or other power element; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in an apparatus of the class and for the purpose specilied which is simple in construction and operation, efficient in use and which is constructed as hereinafter describe-'d and claimed.

The invention described and claimed heres in is an improvement on that shown and describedvin my pending applications bearl ing the following numbers and dates, Ser. No. 384,398 filed May 26, 1920, which has matured into Patent No. 1,501,529, July 15, 1924, Ser. No. 600,012 filed November' 10, 1922, Ser. No. 605,788 tiledv December 9, 1922, and is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and in whichz Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing Ione method of carrying my invention into effect, with parts of the construction broken away and in section.

Fig. 2 is a partial section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows two diagrammatic viewso the electric circuit which I employ with the devices of such circuit in different positions Fig. l is a partial section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2*; and,

Figl 5 is a detail view of a part of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

In the drawing I have shown for the purpose of illustrating one use of my invention or one method of carrying it into effect, four mail elevator tubes 10, said tubes all being of different lengths or the top portions thereof lead to different floors or parts of a building, while the lower end portions of said shafts all meet in a common plane or register with openings 11 at the bottom portion of said shafts. A master mail box door 12 controls the admission to all of said shafts .or the apertures 11 therein, said door being controlled by a lock 13 having a switch portion 14 actuated thereby.

In the separate shafts are mounted mail boxes 15 rsimilar in construction to the mail boxes shown in my pending application bearing Serial No. 605,788, and vfiled December 9, 1922', said box being elongated and rectangular in form and comprising side walls 15a and an arc-shaped back wall 15b, a bottom 15c and a spring member 15d for retaining letters or the like in the mail box, and the corner portions of the box 15' are provided with outwardly bowed rod members 16 to facilitate the movement of the box in the shafts and all ofthe boxes are of similar construction. Connected with the top and bottom of each mail box 15 is a belt, chain or cable 17 which passes around a. pulley or the like 18 at the upper end ofthe shaft and around a similar pulley or thev like 19 at the bottom of the shaft and preferably a predetermined dist-ance therebelow. The belt is also preferably passed around a similar pulley 20 positioned directly above the pulley 19 to retain the belt ,.17 against displacement from the pulley 19. YIt will be understood that each ofthe shafts are similarly constructed or provided with the pulleys 18, 19 and 20, and asshown in the drawing.

Fig. 1 of the drawing the pulleys 19 of the separate shafts are mounted on a shaft 21 while the pulleys 2O are mounted on a shaft 22. The shafts 21 and 22 are mounted in suitable bearings 23 and mounted in said bearings below the shaft 21 is another shaft 24 on which are mounted a plurality of gears 25, 26, 27 and 28 and which increase in size respectively. Mounted on the shaft 21 and in position to mesh with the gears to 28 inclusive are gears 29, 30, 31 and which decrease. in size respectively and the gears 2f) to 32 inclusive are coupled with the pulleys 19 mounted on the shafts, and said pulleys and gears are free to rotate on said shafts, and by reason of the gear construction employed, the four pulleys 197 in the construction shown, will be rotated at different speeds by reason of the ratio of gearing employed.

For rotating the shaft 24 which constitutes the drive shaft, 1 employ an electric motor 33 capable of rotation in two directions; that is to say, clockwise and anticloclrwise and the motor shaft extends into a housing 34 in which is suitable gearings to rotate a shaft 35 positioned at right angles to the motor shaft and on said shaft is a gear 36 which meshes with a gear 37 on the shaft 24 as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of lilith this construction7 the operation of the motor 33 in one direction will cause the shaft 34 to be rotated in one direction to either raise or lower the mail boxes 15 in the separate shafts, and the reverse. action of the motor shaft will reverse the movement imparted to said mail boxes as will be apparent. lt will also be understood that by reason of the differential speeds of the separate pulleys 19, the same will compensate for the raising and lowering` of the mail boxes which extend to dit ferent floors or levels in a building; that is to say, the mail b 1i in the shaft 10 to the left of Fig. 1I will travel at slow speed while the mail box in the shaft 10 at the right of Fig. 1 will. travel at high speed.

To control the operation of the motor 33, l provide an electric circuit which may be arrangedin each of the shafts 10, but in the construction shown a single circuit is employed, |The aforesaid electric circuit is composed of two independent and yet cooperative circuits 38 and 39 and both of these circuits have a common source of electrical supply 40. In the circuit 38 is a switch device 41 comprising two contact members 42 adapted to be coupled together by a switch member 43. The switch member 43 is carried by one of inwardly directedv side extensions 12a on the door 12 which controls the admission to the mail bones in the separate chutes 10, and the circuit is closed through the switch device 41 when the door 12 is in an open position. Another switch 44 is mounted in the circuit 38, and this switch is actuated in one direction by a trip device. at the lower end of one of the mail boxes 15 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing' and is moved into an operative or closed position by a spring 46.

in the circuit 39 is a key-controlled switch device 47 which is actuated by the lor-l; niiechanisn'i 13 on the door 12, the circuit being closed by the switch portion 14 as will be apparent. In the circuit 39 is another switch device 48 normally held in an operative position by a spring 49 and adapted to be moved into an inoperative position by a trip device 50 on the top of the mail bor; l5.

Normally the mail boxes are all in their uppermost positions in the shafts 10 and in juxtaposition to doers or openings coinmunicating with said shafts, one of said doors beinfV indicated at 51 in Fig. 1 of the drawi Y and in this posten of the apparatus.I the circuits 38 and .j or the switch devices therein will assume the position shown at the bottom of Fig'. 3; that is to say.y the switch 41 is open, the switch 44 closed, the switch 47 closed and the switch 48 open. New, if the door 12 be opened by a letter carrier, the switch will be closed to complete the circuit 38 to the motor 33. which oaeration rotates ythe motor in a direction to lower all of the mail boxes into juxtaposition with the opening controlled by the door 12, and in this operation, the downward movement of the mail box provided with the trip device 50 will release the switch 48, and this switch will be moved into a. closed position by the spring 49, but the circuit will rei'nain onen by reason of the opening of the door 12. lfhen the mail bof-tes have reached their lowermost position. the circuit 38 to the motor 33 is broken by the trip Ll-5 engaging the switch 44 to iuove the saine into inoperative position. and this position of the parts is shown at the top of Fig. 3 of the drawing. The oiwration of closing the door 12 by the letter carrier after the mail has been placed in the respective botes 157 will break the circuit 38 through the switch 41 and the circuit 39 will be closed through the switch 47. The motor will thus be operated in the reverse direction and the mail boxes raised to their uppermost position, in which operation the switch 44 will again be Aclose-d and the circuit 39 broken by the opening of the switch 48, which is moved into inoperative position by the trip device 50.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that with my improved apparatus, mail or other packages may be delivered to predetermined floors or compartments on different floors of a building, automatically by the opening and closing of the master door 12 by an authorized party or parties, the mail boxes being normally in their uppermost positions and being automatically move-d downwardly and then automatically moved upwardly in the opening and closing of the door 12. The door 12 is also preferably pro- 'vided with supplemental door members 12b which communicate with the lower end portions of the separate shafts 10. Below the door 12 and the shafts, 10, l also preferably provide a large chamber 52 the admission to which is controlled by a door 53, and the chamber 52 may be used for storing maga- Zines or other large packages that cannot be placed in the mail boxes 15.

It will be understood that one of the distinctive features of my present invention resides in the provision of a single power unit, namely the motor 33, for actuating a multiplicity of independent mail boxes to move the same upwardly and downwardly through shafts which lead to various points in a building, and the provision of a transmission of speeds from a drive shaft to driven members whereby the distance traveled by the respective boxes may vary. 1t' will also be understood that the shafts 10 may be of any shape or form and may extend vertically, horizontally or diagonally through a building or the walls thereof as is shown and described by me in my copending applications, and various changes in and modifications of the construction herein shown and described may be made within the scope ofthe appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is z- 1. An apparatus of the class described 'comprising an endless conveyor, a carrier mounted in connection with said conveyor, means involving a power unit and transmission for actuating said conveyor to move said carrier from one point to another, said last named means being automatically controll'ed, and means involving said first named means for reversing the direction of travel of said carrier.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of conveyors, carriers mounted in connection with the separate conveyors, and means involving a power unit and transmission mechanism for actuating said conveyors and for moving the carriers of the separate conveyors at different speeds.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of conveyors, carriers mounted in connectionwith the separate conveyors, means involving a power unit and transmission mechanism for actuating said conveyors and for moving the carriers of the separate conveyors at different speeds, and means for automatically controlling the direction of movement im.- parted to said carriers.

4.. An apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of conveyors,y carriers mounted in connection with the separate conveyors, means involving a power unit and transmission mechanism for actuat' ing said conveyors and for moving the carriersI cf the separate conveyors at different speeds, and means for automatically controlling the direction of movement imparted to said carriers and vfor holding said carriers at rest in two different positions thereof.

5. A mail elevator apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of independent conveyors, mail boxes mounted in connection with said conveyors and movable thereby, a power shaft, means for rotating said shaft in two directions, and means for transmitting the rotation of said power shaft to the separate conveyors to operate the same as different speeds. l

6. A mail elevator apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of independent conveyors, mail boxes mounted in connection with said conveyors and movable thereby, a power shaft, means for rotating said shaft in two directions, means for transmitting the rotation of said power shaft to the separate conveyors to operate the same at different speeds, yand means for automatically controlling the operation of the apparatu's.

7. A mail elevator apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of independent conveyors, mail boxes mounted in connection with said conveyors and movable thereby, a power-shaft, means for rotating said shaft in two1 directions, means for transmitting the rotation of said power shaft to the separate conveyors to operate the same at different speeds, and means for automatically controlling the operation of the apparatus and for regulating the direction in which the mail boxes are actuated.

8. A mail elevator apparatus of the class described vcomprising a plurality of independent shafts, the lower end portions of said shafts terminating at a predetermined point, a door controlling the communications to the lower end portions of said shafts, mail boxes mounted to move upwardly and downwardly in said shafts, means lfor actuating said boxes comprising endless conveyors, a reversible electric motor, a power shaft driven by said motor, and means for transmitting relative movements to the separate conveyors and mail boxes in the rotation of said power shaft.

9.- A mail elevator apparatus of the class Cil described comprising a plurality of independent shafts, the lower end portions of said shafts terminating at a predetermined point, a door controlling the communications to the lower end portions of said shafts, mail boxes mounted to move upwardly and downwardly in said shafts, means for actuating said boxes comprising endless conveyors, a reversible electric motor, a power shaft driven by said motor, means for transmitting relative movements to the separate conveyors and mail boxes in the rotation of said power shaft, said motor being in an electric circuit, and means in said circuit forl automatically controlling the operation or rotation of said motor.

l0. A. mail elevatorl apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of independent shafts, the lower end portions of said shafts terminating at a predetermined point, a door controlling` the communications to the lower end portions of said shafts, mail boxes mounted to move upwardly and downwardly in said shafts, means for actuating said boxes comprising endless conveyors, a reversible electric motor, a power shaft driven by said motor, means for transmitting relative movements to the separat-e conveyors and mail boxes in the rotation of said power shaft, said motor being in an electric circuit, and means in said circuit for automatically controlling the operation or rotation of said motor and whereby said mail boxes may be retained at rest in two positions thereof.

l1. A. mail elevator apparatus of the class described comprising` a plurality of independent shafts, the lower end portions of said shafts terminating at a predetermined point, a door controlling` the communications to the lower end portions of said shafts, mail boxes mounted to move upwardly and downwardly in said shafts, means for actuating said boxes comprising endless conveyors, a reversible electric motor, a power shaft driven by said motor, means for transmitting relative movements to the separate conveyors and mail boxes in the rotation of said power shaft, said motor being in an electric circuit, and means in said circuit for automatically controlling the operation or rotation of said motor and whereby said mail boxes may be retained at rest in two positions thereof, said circuit being controlled by the opening` and closing of said door.

12. In a mail elevator apparatus of the class described involving a plurality of shafts, mail boxes mounted in said shafts and movable from one end portion thereof to the other, an operating mechanism for actuating said mail boxes, said mechanism comprising a power shaft, an electric motor geared in connection with said shaft and adapted to rotate the same in two directions,

and a plurality of driven members geared in connection with said power shaft in such manner as to be driven at a predetermined ratio of speed with reference to said power shaft.

13. In a mail elevator apparatus of the class described involving a plurality of shafts, mail boxes mounted in said shafts and movable from one end portion thereof to the other, an operating mechanism for actuating said mail boxes, said mechanism comprising a power shaft, an elect-ric motor geared in connection with said shaft and adapted to rotate the same in two directions, and a plurality of driven members geared in connection with said power shaft in such manner as to be driven at a predetermined ratio of speed with reference to said power shaft and with reference to each other.

le. In a mail elevator apparatus of the class 'described involving a plurality of shafts, mail boxes mounted in said shafts and movable from one end portion thereof to lthe other, an operating mechanism for actuating said mail boxes, said mechanism comprising a power shaft, an electric motor geared in connection with. said shaft and adapted to rotate the same in two directions, a plurality of driven members geared in connection with said power shaft in such manner as to be driven at a predetermined ratio of speed with reference to said power shaft and with reference to each other, and means for automatically starting and stopping said electric motor.

15. ln a mail elevator apparatus of the class described involving a plurality of shafts, mail boxes mounted in said shafts and movable from one end portion thereof to the other, an operating mechanism for actuating said mail boxes, said mechanism comprising a power shaft, an electric motor geared in connection with said shaft and adapted to rotate the same in two 'directions, a plurality of driven members geared in connection with said power shaft in such manner as to be driven at a predetermined ratio of speed with reference to said power shaft and with reference to each other, and means for automatically starting and stopping said electric motor and for reversing the direction of its rotation.

16. In an apparatus of the class described a power transmission mechanism comprising a power element, a power shaft driven by said element, a plurality of members in operative connection with said shaft and adapted to be driven at different speeds.

17. ln an apparatus of the class described a power transmission mechanism comprising a power element, a power shaft driven by saidelement, a plurality of members in operative connection with said shaft and adapted to be driven at different speeds, and said power shaft being rotated by the power unit clockwise and anti-c1ookwise 18. In an apparatus of the class described,

` a power transmission mechanism comprising a power unit, a power shaft adapted to be rotated by said unit Clockwise and anticlockwise, a plurality of gears mounted on the power shaft, said gears having different pitch diameters with reference to each other, 10

my invention I have signed my name this 15 29th day of September 1923.

DANIEL A. DORAN. 

